Advertisement

View synonyms for appeal

appeal

[ uh-peel ]

noun

  1. an earnest request for aid, support, sympathy, mercy, etc.; entreaty; petition; plea.

    Synonyms: invocation, supplication, prayer

  2. a request or reference to some person or authority for a decision, corroboration, judgment, etc.

    Synonyms: solicitation, suit

  3. Law.
    1. an application or proceeding for review by a higher tribunal.
    2. (in a legislative body or assembly) a formal question as to the correctness of a ruling by a presiding officer.
    3. Obsolete. a formal charge or accusation.
  4. the power or ability to attract, interest, amuse, or stimulate the mind or emotions:

    The game has lost its appeal.

    Synonyms: attraction

  5. Obsolete. a summons or challenge.


verb (used without object)

  1. to ask for aid, support, mercy, sympathy, or the like; make an earnest entreaty:

    The college appealed to its alumni for funds.

    Synonyms: ask, request

  2. Law. to apply for review of a case or particular issue to a higher tribunal.
  3. to have need of or ask for proof, a decision, corroboration, etc.
  4. to be especially attractive, pleasing, interesting, or enjoyable:

    The red hat appeals to me.

verb (used with object)

  1. Law.
    1. to apply for review of (a case) to a higher tribunal.
    2. Obsolete. to charge with a crime before a tribunal.

appeal

/ əˈpiːl /

noun

  1. a request for relief, aid, etc
  2. the power to attract, please, stimulate, or interest

    a dress with appeal

  3. an application or resort to another person or authority, esp a higher one, as for a decision or confirmation of a decision
  4. law
    1. the judicial review by a superior court of the decision of a lower tribunal
    2. a request for such review
    3. the right to such review
  5. cricket a verbal request to the umpire from one or more members of the fielding side to declare a batsman out
  6. English law (formerly) a formal charge or accusation

    appeal of felony

“Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged” 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012


verb

  1. intr to make an earnest request for relief, support, etc
  2. intr to attract, please, stimulate, or interest
  3. law to apply to a superior court to review (a case or particular issue decided by a lower tribunal)
  4. intr to resort (to), as for a decision or confirmation of a decision
  5. intr cricket to ask the umpire to declare a batsman out
  6. intr to challenge the umpire's or referee's decision
“Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged” 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012
Discover More

Derived Forms

  • apˈpealer, noun
  • apˈpealable, adjective
Discover More

Other Words From

  • ap·peala·bili·ty noun
  • ap·peala·ble adjective
  • ap·pealer noun
  • nonap·peala·bili·ty noun
  • nonap·peala·ble adjective
  • reap·peal verb
  • unap·pealed adjective
Discover More

Word History and Origins

Origin of appeal1

First recorded in 1250–1300; (for the verb) Middle English a(p)pelen, from Anglo-French, Old French a(p)peler, from Latin appellāre “to speak to, address,” from ap- ap- 1 + -pellāre “to push repeatedly,” stem of pellere “to drive, push, strike”; (for the noun) Middle English ap(p)el, from Anglo-French, Old French apel, noun derivative of ap(p)eler
Discover More

Word History and Origins

Origin of appeal1

C14: from Old French appeler, from Latin appellāre to entreat (literally: to approach), from pellere to push, drive
Discover More

Idioms and Phrases

Idioms
  1. appeal to the country, British. country ( def 15 ).
Discover More

Synonym Study

Appeal, entreat, petition, supplicate mean to ask for something wished for or needed. Appeal and petition may concern groups and formal or public requests. Entreat and supplicate are usually more personal and urgent. To appeal is to ask earnestly for help or support, on grounds of reason, justice, common humanity, etc.: to appeal for contributions to a cause. To petition is to ask by written request, by prayer, or the like, that something be granted: to petition for more playgrounds. Entreat suggests pleading: The captured knight entreated the king not to punish him. To supplicate is to beg humbly, usually from a superior, powerful, or stern (official) person: to supplicate that the lives of prisoners be spared.
Discover More

Example Sentences

No matter the flavor, they lack marshmallow stickiness and cloying sweetness of Rice Krispies treats, as well as the bake-sale appeal.

From Eater

Market-specific, rather than pan-regional, newsroom coverage will also grow the publisher’s appeal, he said.

From Digiday

Tichina Arnold might be the funniest person on screen, and a large part of her appeal comes from her willingness to tell it like it is.

From Ozy

Rodríguez is currently awaiting the outcome of the appeal in her case, a process that has been delayed for more than six months.

Platforms would also have to create complaint systems that notify users within 14 days of taking down their content and provide for appeals.

More to the point, Huckabee has a natural appeal to a party that has come to represent the bulk of working class white voters.

Having regional appeal is one thing; simply being a regional candidate is another.

In January, an appeal hearing will determine whether he qualifies for post-conviction relief.

“Basically, I was contacted and asked if an appeal could be opened on my behalf,” she told me from her home in Providence.

I was on Charlie Rose recently, and in discussing Marilyn Monroe he asked, what do you think was her great appeal?

He came back in due time, but bringing nothing for me, and I felt that my appeal had been in vain.

Make a personal appeal to your men and Godley's to make a supreme effort to hold their ground.

While Nature is thus speaking to a child through her light, her colour and her various forms, human art makes appeal also.

A burning crimson flushed over the cheek of Wharton, as Louis uttered this ardent appeal to friendship and to Heaven.

It was then that he heard for the first time Mamma's passionate appeal to him never to let Judy forget Mamma.

Advertisement

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.

Advertisement

Advertisement

Advertisement


appd.appealing